Proposed bill would eliminate primaries in special elections

Feb. 08, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A proposed bill would eliminate primaries in special elections in Utah — allowing only a general election.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Republican State Rep. Dan McCay unveiled the bill Wednesday. In most cases, the bill would give parties 30 days to determine their nominees in any way they choose.

For the Utah Republican Party, that would almost surely result in state convention delegates choosing the nominee. The bill's structure and timing would not allow qualifying by collecting signatures.

McCay says he was too busy Wednesday to comment about his bill. But House leaders have talked about such legislation as pushback against Gov. Gary Herbert for refusing to call them into special session last year to set rules for the special election and instead unilaterally establishing the rules and timeline.